Watch movement



Aug. 26, 1941. H. COLOMB WATCH MOVEMENT Filed Oct. 10, 1938 m N E V N H. COLOMB av 7 HM M+Ww ATTYS.

Patented Aug. 26, 1941 WATCH MOVEMENT Henri Colomb, Lausanne, Switzerland Application October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,236 In Germany October 13, 1937 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacturing of small watch movements.

In order to facilitate the manufacturing of small watch movements and for the sake of economy said movements must be provided with the largest possible wheel work and, above all, with the largest possible escapement. The base of the balance cock which should carry the necessary members for orientating and attaching said cock upon the plate is then of such small dimension that the distance between the orientating members no longer sufiices to ensure that the bearings in the cock and in the plate will align correctly. This distance, being very small in comparison to that between each orientating means and the balance-bearings, explains the fact that any lack of precision in manufacturing, even if it be very slight, which affects the position of one of the said elements, results in a great deviation of the bearings from their mutual coaxial position. Owing to this deviation the balance is not parallel to the plate and, therefore does not have the required distance from its co-acting members of the movement. The function of the escapement would thus become inexact and, therefore, a delicate and expensive touching up is necessary. The dismounting and remounting required by this touching up are the cause of defects in the jewels and pivots of the escapement wheels and besides have a disastrous influence on the cleanness of the movement on which the life of the watch depends to a great degree. Owing to this deviation it is impossible for a factory to supply the repairers with assortments of pallets requiring no touching up, which is a great disadvantage, for such revision is very difficult for non-skilled workers.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the above mentioned inconveniences and consists in a watch-movement with a balance cock having a single base only for attaching it. In accordance with the present invention the balance cock is provided with an arm extending from the bearing on said cock in a direction opposite to the base. This arm comprises a first orientating element which cooperates with a second element on the other part of the frame-work. A third orientating element on the base of the balance cock fits exactly with a fourth element on the other part of the frame-work and fastening elements of the balance cock provided on the base only engage with corresponding fastening elements of the other part of the frame work.

As an example, the drawing represents three embodiments of a movement according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view and Fig. 2 a section on line 22 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a modification showing a partial plan view of a cock resting on the escapement bridge.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a section of a third embodiment of the invention.

In the movement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the barrel a, the train comprising the usual wheels 0, d, e, the escapement with the wheel ,1 and the balance b are made as large as possible and, therefore, occupy almost all the available surface of the plate, especially the right hand half. As may be seen there remains only a small surface for the base h: of the balance cock h.

In Fig. 3 is seen what would be the position of the foot 12 to the right of the fastening screw 1". Even if it were possible to locate another foot (not shown) on the left of the screw r at a somewhat greater distance from said fastening screw 1', the space between these feet, when compared to the distance between each foot and the bearing q of the balance cock would be so small that the slightest lack of precision in placing these feet would cause a considerable deviation from the co-axial position of the balance bearings q and qr (Fig. 1).

To remedy this inconvenience the usual plate of the balance cock has been elongated by an arm h extending from the bearing q in a direction opposite to the base ha and entering into a notch k of the barrel bridge 2'. This arm h is provided with a hole I forming the first orientating element, shaped to receive the cylindrical foot m, the latter being fixed to the plate s of the frame-work, said foot m being the second orientating element.

In Fig. 1, a foot is provided formed as an internal threaded sleeve hz. This sleeve is fastened to the plate s, projects from this plate and fits exactly into the hole t of the base ha of the cock h. This orientating sleeve hz, owing to its internal thread u, serves simultaneously as a fastening element for the balance cock h. The other fastening element is formed as a headed screw hi, engaging the internal thread u of said sleeve, thus gripping the balance cock.

From the foregoing the great advantage of the invention claimed over the arrangements hitherto used may clearly be seen. A lack of precision in manufacturing and mounting of the orientating means lying on opposite sides of and far from the balance bearings will not be transmitted in a multiplied amount to the mutual position of said bearings but, on the contrary, will be reduced to about half of its amount.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the orientating element he which fits that of the arm h is provided in the plate 8 of the framework. It is evident that this element could also be placed in another part of the frame-work, for instance in the barrel-bridge, without departing rom the scope of the invention.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the base of the balance cock is fastened on top of the partially notched base of the bridge of the escape wheel 1. This is the only possible way to fix said bridge 0, because there is no space for its attaching with the aid of two feet. This bridge 0 is fastened to the plate s with the aid of a screw p1, screwed into an internal threaded sleeve 122 which, together with the hole 11 of the bridge 0 serves simultaneously as an orientating means for the said bridge 0. A foot n, which may be fixed to the plate s, but which is preferably attached to the bridge 0, projects from both sides of said bridge. The lower part of said foot n fits exactly into the hole to of the plate 3, thus forming another orientating means for the bridge 0. The upper part of the foot n, forming the fourth orientating element for the balance cock, fits exactly into the third orientating element of said balance cock, i. e. into the hole a: in the base 714 of the balancecock. The first and second orientating elements correspond to the elements I and m of Fig. 1. The thickness of this base is reduced owing to he escapement bridge 0 on which it rests. The foot it replaces the sleeve he of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For the fastening of the balance cock on theplate s a separate screw 1' is provided, passing freely through a hole y of the bridge 0.

The sectional view, Fig. 5, shows a similar combination. There is to be found the fastening screw 101 for the escapement bridge 0 and the threaded sleeve 102. The foot n (Fig. 4)

common to the bridge 0 and the balance cock 1 has been replaced by a second internal threaded sleeve he attached to the plate s, said sleeve hz engaging the fastening screw in of the balance cock.

While I have shown and described three embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof, as various mo'difications may occur to a person skilledin the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a watch movement and in combination, a framework including a plate and a balance cock, a base at one side of and forming a part of said balance cock, a balance bearing on the balance cock, an arm provided on said balance cock and extending from said balance bearing in a direction opposite to said base, a hole in said arm, a foot fast to said plate and fitting exactly into said hole in said arm, a hole in said base, a sleeve carried by said plate and fitting exactly into said hole in said base, an internal thread on said sleeve, and a screw adapted to grip said balance cock and engage said internal thread of said sleeve.

2. In a watch movement and in combination, a frame-work, a balance cock forming one part of said frame-work, a base at one side of and forming a part of said balance cock, a balance bearing on the balance cock, an arm provided on said balance cock and extending from said balance bearing in a direction opposite to said base, a first orientating element on said arm, a second orientating element in the other part of said frame-work exactly fitting said first orientating element, at least one third orientating element on said base, on the other part of the frame-work at least one fourth orientating element fitting exactly said third orientating element, and fastening means adapted to fasten the base of said balance cock to the other part of said frame-work.

3. In a watch movement and in combination, a framework including a plate, an escapement bridge and a balance cook, a base at one side of and forming a part of said balance cock, a balance bearing on said balance cock, an arm provided on said balance-cock and extending from said bearing in a direction opposite to said base, .a first orientating element on said arm, a second orientating element in said plate exactly fitting with said first element, said bridge having a partially notched base, said arm lying on top of said notched base, a first sleeve fast to said plate, a first hole in said bridge exactly fitting said first sleeve, an internal thread in said first sleeve, a first screw adapted to grip said bridge and engage the internal thread in said first sleeve, a second sleeve fast to said plate, a second hole in said bridge and a hole in the base of said cock, said second sleeve fitting exactly into said second hole and into said hole in said base of the balance cock, an internal thread in said second sleeve, and a second screw adapted to grip said balance cock and engage said internal thread of said second sleeve.

4. In a watch movement and in combination, a framework including a plate, an escapement bridge and a balance cock, a base at one side of and forming a part of said balance cook, a balance bearing on said balance cock, an arm provided on said balance cock and extending from said bearing in a direction opposite to said base, a first orientating element on said arm, a second orientating element in said plate exactly fitting with said first element, said bridge having a partially notched base, said arm lying on top of said notched base, a first sleeve fast to said plate, a first hole in said bridge fitting exactly said first sleeve, an internal thread in said first sleeve, a first screw adapted to grip said bridge and engage the internal thread of said first sleeve, a foot fast to said plate, a second hole in said bridge and a first hole in the base of said cock, said foot fitting exactly into said second hole in said bridge and into said first hole in the base of said balance cook, a threaded hole in said plate, a third hole in said bridge, a second hole in the base of said balance cock, and a screw passing freely through said third hole in the bridge and engaging said threaded hole and adapted to grip said balance cock.

HENRI COLOMB. 

